When I came to photograph Lauren’s suit fitting at Dash’s in Old Town Alexandria VA, I was already in love with the small shop. The suits, ties, and shirts all came in so many colors! The guy running the shop was wonderfully chatty and made us all laugh several times.
From Dingmoonment(Lauren’s fiance’s blog):
Like every person who has ever gotten married, Lauren wants to walk into a room of well-wishers who are beaming with pride and excitement, in part because she just looks so damn good. After the subject of where we are getting married, questions about what Lauren will wear are the most common. Both questions are typical of the tiny culture clash that happens when gay people tell straight people they are getting married, but the suit question is filled with so much taboo and tension. Mostly, Lauren wants to feel beautiful at our wedding and make her parents happy – at the same time.
All images by Kelly Prizel Photography
Lauren totally rocked her suit. A deep deep chocolate with burgundy and gold stripes, it blew me away. I have never seen a suit like that(you don’t see too many suits in colors other than gray and black). I learned some interesting things:
- Everyone’s legs are slightly different lengths. So Dash’s has special tools to measure how much to hem your pants and looks at each leg.
- Most men’s stores do not carry little boy sizes, which most women need to resort to with shoes and shirts. Ask your suit shop for recommendations on where to shop or ask if they can custom order you something.
- The tie can be a major decision. Have the shop pick out 3 without your input and then go from there. They are the experts but it *is* your tie. However, having a base to start with is great.
- Don’t be afraid to go to a traditional men’s shop. I knew Lauren and Desaray had been there before, so I wasn’t nervous but I can’t imagine the guts it took to walk in there cold turkey and ask if they would do a suit for Lauren. Call Dash’s if your in Virginia. If you don’t happen to be in Virginia, call around to small men’s shops and ask if they have fitted a woman before. If they start with the “Now why don’t you go to a woman’s shop?” just hang up and try the next one.
HELL YES! This is a topic that I get questions about all the freaking time, and as someone who leans toward the femmey side of the spectrum, I’ve been stumped.
Mind if I link this, and include a couple of the photos? (With full attribution, of course!)
Man, that takes guts — I’m not sure why I find the prospect of shopping for a woman in a men’s suit shop so terrifying… but I do.. So, Lauren is my new hero. My proverbial hat is off.
[...] and for a great first-person perspective on buying a suit, I highly recommend the Lesbian Wedding Suit Guide from [...]
[...] and for a great first-person perspective on buying a suit, I highly recommend the Lesbian Wedding Suit Guide from [...]
[...] menswear shop with super-high quality italian suiting, got a very positive review after one couple found a gorgeous wedding suit there: Lauren totally rocked her suit. A deep deep [...]